India Gaming and E-Sports market to reach $2.6 billion by 2030

India's video games and e-sports market is projected to generate US$2.6 billion in revenue by 2030, up from US$1.5 billion in 2025, according to PwC India's Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2026–2030.

The combined market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% over the five years, placing gaming among the key digital growth segments of India's entertainment and media industry.

PwC's report, released on August 27, 2026, projects India's overall entertainment and media market to expand from US$25.7 billion in 2025 to US$36.7 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.4%. Video games and e-sports are expected to contribute to this expansion alongside internet advertising and over-the-top (OTT) video services.

Revenue models evolve

The report identifies a shift in the gaming industry's focus from audience acquisition towards monetisation and sustainable revenue generation.

In video games, in-game advertising and recurring revenue models are expected to play a greater role as the market matures. These models help gaming businesses generate revenue beyond initial purchases and expand ways to monetise player engagement.

E-sports, meanwhile, is expected to benefit from sponsorship-led commercial models. Brand partnerships and sponsorships are among the revenue streams that can help connect competitive gaming with advertisers and audiences.

PwC notes that the development of these revenue models will be important in converting growing engagement into sustainable business value. The report does not separately disclose the 2030 revenue forecast for video games and e-sports in the summary figures, instead providing a combined estimate of US$2.6 billion.

India's wider digital growth

The gaming forecast comes as India's entertainment and media sector increasingly shifts towards digital platforms and technology-led revenue streams.

PwC projects internet advertising revenue to nearly double from US$7.5 billion in 2025 to US$14.3 billion in 2030, while OTT revenue is expected to rise from US$2.2 billion to US$3.6 billion over the same period.

Across the industry, the report identifies monetisation, premium experiences and operational efficiency as important themes for businesses seeking to convert audience scale into revenue.

For gaming companies, publishers, advertisers, and e-sports organisers, the projected growth shows an expanding market where advertising, sponsorships, and recurring revenue models are expected to become increasingly important.

The forecast reflects PwC's projections for the combined video games and e-sports sector and does not represent realised revenue or a guarantee of future market performance.